Page 9 of Ruarc
Without noticing, I had let my guard down and lost track of time, while we were talking. As I notice the shifting light in the sky, I glance down at my comm unit and locate Slavic, who is only a few meters ahead of me, apparently stopped.
“I thought we would have more time to explore, but it appears darkness comes quickly on Deapra.”
“Shortened risings signal the approach of the cold season. The darkness is much longer than the light at that time. After the crash, many could not be moved, either physically or mentally as most were healing. When the first cold season hit, we all crammed together inside the cargo hold of the ship, sharing ourwarmth, trying to make the rations stretch as we had no extra clothing or ways to protect ourselves from the cold.
The older Ruk Orc I told you that passed … Zauz, he snuck off one darkness, only to return two risings later with a sack full of sea life and greens. He lost a toe from the cold and limped for the rest of his existence, but his sacrifice kept us all from starving. After that, anyone who ventured out was better provided for as we tore every strip of fabric we could find off chairs or anything that had survived in the ship to clothe them. It was a tough time, but we all made it through. Most of us were grateful to have escaped with our lives from the Aynar. If we had perished from the cold or the trip here, at least it would have been on our terms, not theirs.”
“How many of you are there? I have been so focused on mam and our sister, that I did not take the time to think about the others who escaped.”
“Initially, and to be honest, this is just conjecture, I believe there were thirty, maybe a few more. Between the crash and the ill health of a few before and after, there are only fifteen adults and three younglings left from Viri 9. But we also have five from the planet Earth.”
“Ruby and Rowan’s Earth?”
“Yes, we are not the only ones who found their way here. There are other females from the sisters’ home planet living among us.”
“Do Rowan and Ruby know there are others of their kind here?”
“No, in all of this it had slipped my mind. I do not think I ever imagined I would return here, to be honest.”
“You will have plenty of time to inform them, as we will bunk down with Slavic and Ruby this darkness. That smoke up ahead on the mountaintop is where Slavic has stopped. We will rest and start fresh with the rising light.”
CHAPTER 6
KALLEN
I try not to pay too much attention to the warm hands settled casually on my hips as Ruarc maneuvers this magical disk up a steep ravine where we see a faint line of smoke coming out of the hillside.
Ruby meets us at the cave entrance, a huge smile upon her beautiful face. “Oh my God, this place is like Earth before humans overwhelmed it. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled fresher air or felt softer grass. If I had a choice of where to crash land, this place would definitely make the list. I can’t believe I’m actually on an alien planet! This shit is so cool! Slavic found a waterfall over that way somewhere that he promised we would check out better tomorrow, and man, do I miss having a camera. This place is epic, and I’ve never seen anything that beautiful in all my days. Did you guys find anything?”
Ruarc grabs my hips, setting me off the disk before lowering it to the ground next to Slavic’s, then walks past us without saying a word. Ruby sticks her tongue out at him, and I cannot help but chuckle.
Grabbing my hand in her own, we walk inside the cave they found, and my stomach rumbles at the smell of food cooking over an open flame. Ruarc and Slavic are talking back and forth, but their words quiet when I approach. Slavic reaches for my hand, his meaty fingers rubbing over the signet ring of my sire’s and for a moment, I swear I hear Ruarc growl before he turns away from all of us, stomping out of the cave’s entrance.
“The sustenance will be ready shortly. While scouting the area, we found a few tubers and other edible greens to help stretch the rations we brought with us. Our first meal should be plentiful. I will say Kallen, I do agree with my Starshine. This planet is quite beautiful, to the point it makes me wonder what else it is hiding.”
“I cannot verify this as I have not seen it for myself, but the scouts have ventured far and wide looking for other signs of life and better grounds for harvesting the foods needed to sustain us through the cold seasons. Right before the Velgriddix invaded, I overheard Lurtza, one of the scouts, talking to your mam about an area several rotations walking distance away that terrified her. She said the trees appear as if they melted into the wall of the ravine they were growing in. She said that their trunks were twisted and blood red, but it was like they had living veins inside of their thin skin, as she could see something moving through them like they were alive. The rocks they lay upon seemed hollow, as if the trees had drained them of their inner life and energy. The soil, from what she could tell, was even red in color. I could tell the place spooked her.”
Ruby has been walking around the interior of the cave while Slavic and I were talking. Skipping back in our direction, she states sarcastically, “Well, let’s mark that off our next vacation spot, Ughh.”
I shake my head and smile. Ruby never fails to make me laugh, but she does not miss my eyes wandering toward the cave opening.
“Ruarc took the disk and flew off.”
I know she and Slavic are both watching me, but I shake my head and sit down with my back against the wall. Closing my eyes, I try to settle my thoughts, simply thankful to be back on familiar ground.
“Kallen honey, I know this might not be any of my business, but I understand why Slavic’s parents went with the evil fairies, mostly. But why did yours? I mean, you’re apparently royalty or something important in their world. Why did your family leave?”
“Love.”
“Well, I’m on board as that’s an awesome reason for all things, but I am also nosy, and I need more information than that.”
“My sire was the second-born son. The spare all kingdoms must have, but do not always need. He was promised as a young boy to the daughter of our sergeant-at-arms. All of it was political and a way for the king to ensure his forces remained loyal. Sire was supposed to bond with her on his twenty-fifth name day. Instead, he ran off with my mam, who they did not know at the time was pregnant with me. You see, my mam was a commoner and a maid in the castle. She and my sire had practically grown up together but had to hide their friendship because of their different social stations.
Mam was a few lunar rotations younger than my sire, but she said she always knew he was hers, bond mark or no. Just as sire was packing to leave, they realized this might be the last time they ever saw each other and well, being young, one thing led toanother. When they consummated … the bond, it clicked in, and they were tied together permanently. Sire rejoiced, while mam cried, as she was sure he would abandon her, since there were rumors that bonds could be severed if they were new enough. Instead, her new mate whisked her away from Uzrul, relocating to Viri 9 under the lies the Aynar told that he would become the sole ruler over his people who were settling there looking for a more prosperous life.”
“Wow, so I take it your uncle didn’t take him running off well?”
“Wiped his name from the family lineage when he refused to return and honor the contract. As far as I know, they never spoke again, even though I can remember mam asking sire to contact him for help when the Aynar finally revealed their true selves and most of our people were imprisoned in one way or another. He refused, said it would make no difference, and when I was setting his funeral pyre on fire, I wondered if he was right. Mam did not last two rotations once he was gone, and I was left alone at the mercy of the Aynar.”
